Friday, 10 August 2012

It's all over today's papers Shrek has been speaking and he wants Robin van P€r$i€ to join him at Manchester United. Like me care... but it's nice to know the price is rising the more they talk about him.

It doesn't seem like the van P€r$i€ situation is going to be resolved before the weekend and he'll be involved in the final pre-season game against Cologne on Sunday.

The situation at the moment is that the Dutchman is likely to start the season in north London unless Manchester United up their bid significantly. The Daily Telegraph report the Premier League runners-up's CEO David Gill will personally get involved to resolve the deal.

Remember like Arsenal, Manchester United finished last season without silverware. If van P€r$i€ stayed we'd have just as good as chance as them to end our trophy drought but then we're not offering the Premier League's top scorer £220k a week. It's not just about the money - it's sporting ambition - even know Robin knows we're going to be very competitive this season.

If van P€r$i€ can see what Mikel Arteta is seeing in training - he talks up the "big impact" Santi Cazorla is going to have on us this season and the bonding which is going on in Germany - why doesn't he agree to sign a new contract to make him Arsenal's highest ever paid player?

"Technically he is very gifted, he can play wide in both positions and through the middle as well.

"He is tricky and has two good feet - in fact I could not say whether he is right or left-footed. He will bring us good experience and something different. He will be a good addition to the team.

"I am convinced he will [make a big impact]. The way that we play at Arsenal really suits his qualities and hopefully he will be very successful."

I can't wait to see the Spaniard in action on Sunday and am very envious of all the Gooners who are going to see his debut in person. The game is hopefully going to give us a taste of what's to come at the club this coming season.

The manager has done a fantastic job in signing three quality players for a bargain price of below £40m. And we've still got Bacary Sagna and Jack Wilshere to come back from injury.

One surprise addition to the squad for our German training camp was Serge Gnabry who has told the official site he was "buzzing" when he got told he was going up with the first team squad for their week away.

"I wasn't quite sure if I was going because I had some injury problems before. But when they finally told me I was going I was buzzing.

"It is a very big chance and I hope I take it. At the beginning I was a bit nervous but I settled down after some time. You just get into training, try your best and then learn a lot from the other players."

The 17-year-old has been tole by Arsene Wenger he has a big chance and has to take it. The teenager himself is already targeting the Capital One Cup and some Premier League involvement for the season ahead. And good luck to him. By all accounts he's going to be quite some player for us.

And finally The Sun report we're in a three way race for Celtic's 23-year-old midfielder Ki Sung-Yeung who is also wanted by Atletico Madrid and QPR.